Monolithic Ceramic Membrane Filter for Fermented Malt Beverage Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cross-flow filtration in the production of fermented malt beverages, such as beer, is limited by a rapid increase in transmembrane pressure, which restricts filtration time and efficiency, especially when using ceramic membrane filters.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a monolithic ceramic membrane filter with a slit and a membrane pore size of 0.6 µm to 0.9 µm, along with silica gel having a drying loss of 40% or more as a stabilizer, to suppress the increase in transmembrane pressure and enable long-term filtration. This approach allows for continuous filtration for 3 hours or more with a permeation flux of 30 L/m²/h or more and a log reduction value of 5 or more relative to Lactobacillus brevis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cross-flow filtration is performed using a ceramic membrane filter with small pore size to achieve high sterilization performance, then log reduction value increases, but transmembrane pressure increases rapidly limiting filtration time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pore size parameter of the ceramic membrane filter to a specific range (0.6-0.9 μm) that optimizes the balance between sterilization performance and filtration time. This parameter optimization allows the system to achieve log reduction value of 5 or more while maintaining permeation flux of 30 L/m²/h or more, preventing rapid transmembrane pressure increase and enabling continuous filtration for 3 hours or more.
2Duration of action of moving object
If cross-flow filtration is performed to achieve long-term operation, then filtration time increases, but transmembrane pressure must be suppressed requiring lower operating pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the membrane pore size parameter to 0.6-0.9 μm, which maintains adequate permeation flux while suppressing rapid transmembrane pressure increase. This allows continuous filtration operation for 3 hours or more without excessive pressure buildup that would require pump shutdown.
3Reliability
If smaller pore size membrane is used to improve sterilization, then log reduction value increases, but permeation flux decreases reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and implements an optimal pore size range of 0.6-0.9 μm for the ceramic membrane filter. Within this range, the system achieves log reduction value of 5 or more against Lactobacillus brevis while maintaining permeation flux of 30 L/m²/h or more, thus simultaneously achieving high sterilization performance and adequate productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively suppresses the rapid increase in transmembrane pressure, enabling extended filtration operations with improved permeation flux and sterilization performance, reducing the need for additional disinfection or sterilization treatments, and maintaining the quality of the fermented malt beverage.
Implementation Method 1
cross-flow filtering a fermented liquid containing malt as a raw material through a monolithic ceramic membrane filter
Implementation Method 2
silica gel, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) or the like is generally used as a stabilizer in order to adsorb and remove causative substances of turbidity
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method of producing that is for a fermented malt beverage, which includes a cross-flow filtration step using a ceramic membrane filter, suppresses a rapid increase in transmembrane pressure, and enables a long-term filtration operation. The method of producing a fermented malt beverage, which includes cross-flow filtering a fermented liquid containing malt as a raw material. In this production method, the cross-flow filtration is performed through a monolithic ceramic membrane filter disposed apart from a flow path of the fermented liquid, including a slit having an opening in its side surface, and having a membrane pore size of 0.6 µm or more and 0.9 µm or less. The fermented liquid contains silica gel having a drying loss of 40% or more.